Note for 20241216

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

According to John

Read Through The Bible

“As it Happened” Bible Reading Plan

Day 030

Exodus 1 to 3

Part 17 - John 13 - The Cleansing

The Audio Version of today’s note

The House of Bread · Voice Note for 20241216 - TheGospelofJesusChrist-Part17-John13-TheCleansing

John 13:1-38 KJV

[1] Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. [2] And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; [3] Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; [4] he riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. [5] After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. [6] Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? [7] Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. [8] Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. [9] Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. [10] Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. [11] For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. [12] So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? [13] Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. [16] Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. [17] If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. [18] I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. [19] Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. [20] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. [21] When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. [22] Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. [23] Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. [24] Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. [25] He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? [26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. [27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. [28] Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. [29] For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. [30] He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. [31] Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. [32] If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. [33] Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. [34] A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. [36] Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. [37] Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. [38] Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.13.1-38.KJV

John gives us an intimate account of what he witnessed at the Last Supper with Jesus Christ. Today we know that he was the disciple that Jesus loved, who lay with his head upon the breast of our Lord. He was right there, and it is to Him that Christ revealed who it would be that should betray Him.

But first, Christ Jesus, the Son of GOD, even the Word of GOD made flesh, humbled Himself to the position of a servant and washed the feet of His disciples. He made Himself lower even than him that would betray Him, by washing even the feet of his enemy.

John 13:27 KJV

[27] And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.13.27.KJV

There are many elements in this account that we could look deeper into, but this of the cleansing of mankind, that was initiated symbolically in the washing of the feet is very important for the believer to understand.

Though we, at our best attempts to live righteously, fail; none can have a part in Christ if He does not cleanse us. Once more, there are matters of the Law that are dealt with here, in that one must be washed before coming to the sacrifice to partake of it; but more so that none with spot or wrinkle can come into the presence of the Most High GOD and live. For this purpose there were cleansing ceremonies in the Temple of GOD in Jerusalem, even for the High Priest, before He could make atonement for the people. So was Christ Himself baptised first before He started with His ministry. A symbol of the Way of things. We see how Peter first refuses the Lord to wash his feet, but how he becomes eager once he understands. Do you understand?

The Holy Spirit is as Christ with us. He was sent to us by GOD the Father, who is Spirit, as Christ confessed. The Holy Spirit was sent to us, in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; that Christ may be with us, never forsaking us. As always, man may choose to refuse Him which GOD sent to us, for we do have free will and choice; but, it does not undo what GOD has done. It simply means we refuse to have a part in it. Just like Peter refusing the Lord at first. But, furthermore, if we understand that it is the Holy Spirit in us that washes us clean from within, will we permit the cleansing by the Lord then? It is the Holy Spirit by Whom our thoughts and feelings get washed as we go, don't you know? Is it not by the Holy Spirit of GOD, that we are guided unto righteousness in all things?

For those of you that still struggle whether you should be baptised in the Lord Jesus Christ or not, I hope this passage in the Bible will convince you of it. For if you are not washed by Jesus, you cannot have a part in Him, according to His words to Simon Peter here. Baptism is every bit as much a testimony of your washing, as the washing of the feet here in the text today. A symbol that stands for an undeniable account of your testimony of intent towards Christ. Just as Jesus, the Word of GOD, washed the feet of His disciples; so must you be washed by The Word of GOD. Did you read how even the Prophets proclaimed that GOD will place His Word in us? How He would place His Law upon our hearts? What was first written on stone, parchment and paper, must make it's way to man's heart. That is the circumcision that GOD wants. It is a legal requirement by the Law of GOD, even that Law that He placed upon our heart. If we are not washed clean, then do we remain in the filth that we were born in. Then we remain as flesh alone, refusing the Holy Spirit of GOD to tabernacle in us. Without Christ, we remain unclean and what is unclean cannot come before the throne of GOD and live.

By the water and the Spirit are we baptised into the righteousness of Christ Jesus. So are we clean, but still remains the matter of washing the feet, for with it we tread on unholy ground. Now, we are still in this world, but by the Words of Christ, we know that we are not part of this world. So as we still sojourn here, we come into contact with unclean things. We ourselves get filthy by what we partake in. So we repent, we are washed clean by the HOLY Spirit of GOD, Who reminds us of all that Christ said, just as Jesus promised. Still do we have the choice to be washed day-by-day, but also the choice to refuse the cleansing. Though it is unwise, and may even lead to us falling away again; still have we got the choice, whether we follow Christ or not, daily.

Will you permit a cleansing for you? The choice is yours.

Shalom.

The House of Bread

Verse of The Day

From the YouVersion Bible App (expanded from verse 14)

Isaiah 7:14-17 KJV

[14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. [15] Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. [16] For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. [17] The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.

https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.7.14-17.KJV

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